Peter Pré's Chaparral 2J by Mark Gussin

Something quite different this time.

Back in 1970 Jim Hall raced a car that quite literally sucked itself to the track. The same result as aerodynamic downforce but achieved in a mechanical way using two snowmobile motors! The car's cornering was fantastic but it caused all sorts of controversy and was eventually banned.

Like so many slot car enthusiasts I am a fan of Chaparrals. At Goodwood in 1997 Jim Hall was there with the 2J "sucker" car, the 2F and a 2C. Fantastic machines. I have never been an autograph hunter but Jim Hall's I had to have.

I have seen a number of efforts at making a slot car of this wonderful car. Vacuum bodies tend not to do it justice. I was corresponding with Peter Pré about another thing then he said that maybe I'd like to see the 2J he is doing.
First he send me a picture then he sent me over a resin bodyshell he had done. It was jaw-hit-the-floor time! Peter has made it so well, he has done a chassis, the body itself of course, the fans at the back, and proper Chaparral wheels. He kept qualifying it saying that more detail still needed to be added!

The proportions are just right and it looks wonderful from all angles.

Well I conveyed my appreciation of the car and promised Peter that I would do the decals for it. This I have done. The net result is a fantastic looking slot car. Peter did some elements in further detail and this version of the car rivals the Nincos and Flys of this world. An absolutely fantastic job. Construction of the car is fairly simple. I used Slot-it axles and gears and glued in the bearings.

The silver part of the bodyshell is painted over the white and then the decals applied over it all. I made the roll-bar out of brass but since then Peter has added the roll bar, rear lights, wing mirrors and steering wheel to the casting.

It never fails to amaze me just what skills people have. A superb effort from a very skilled guy. Jim Hall would be impressed.

Well done and thanks Peter!

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